In the Wake of DACA, CA Leaders Pledge $30 Million to Help Young Immigrants

Almost immediately following Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ announcement that the federal government was shutting down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a trio of top California Democrats, all of whom are of Mexican heritage, immediately pledged to challenge Trump’s decision to end the program. Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Secretary of State Alex Padilla, and Senate Pro Tempore Kevin de León, immediately called a press conference to announce their intention to protect the estimated 240,000 DACA recipients living in the state of California, with 100,000 alone in Los Angeles. California has developed into what may be the most progressive state in the country on immigration issues. The state has consistently extended a series of protections and benefits to the estimated 2.35 million undocumented immigrants who inhabit the state, which is far more than in any other state in the country. These benefits include state financial aid and in-state tuition costs, driver’s licenses, and health care in the form of Medi-Cal. Now California is going even further, as the legislature considers the California Values Act (SB 54), which would effectively make California the first sanctuary state. The legislation would limit the authority of local police and sheriffs to hold, question, or arrest undocumented immigrants. Another legislative proposal would provide grants, fee waivers, or reimbursements for undocumented individuals to attend California community colleges, in exchange for community service hours. In the immediate future, however, California leaders have sued the federal government in order to preserve the DACA program, which could at least delay the end of the program. The suit, similar to the class action suit filed by the state of New York, would likely consist of due process challenges, as well as the discriminatory targeting of immigrants without legal immigration status. The negative economic impact of ending of DACA on the individual states also is a potential ground for a lawsuit. California is taking a stand to support the thousands of DACA recipients living in the state, even as the federal government takes steps to dismantle the program altogether. For DACA program participants, deportation is become a very real possibility. We are the California deportation defense lawyers whom you can turn to if you or a loved one are facing deportation proceedings, no matter what the reason may be. Regardless of the complexity or difficulty of the situation, Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C. has the experience, knowledge, and skills to advocate on behalf of you and your family throughout the course of any deportation proceedings. Contact our office today and let us answer all of your questions about any aspect of deportation proceedings.